JASON HILLS, SUN MEDIA

He was expecting to take a little rest and relaxation with a recent trip to the Dominican Republic and not be a part of tomorrow's TFC 5 Armageddon card at the Shaw Conference Centre.

However, the e-mails just kept filing into The Fight Club office, requesting he be added to the card. Now he'll face Edmonton's Luc Desautels as part of the under-card.

SEVENTH MMA MATCH

It will be Penner's seventh mixed martial arts fight this year. He's also been in a boxing and kickboxing match.

"Honestly, I don't know how I am going to do. I am tired and burnt out.

"I got a little bit left in me for one more fight and I am going to give it my all, everything I have," said Penner yesterday.

He found out about the fight just two days before he left on his trip.

"There isn't a muscle in my body that isn't sore, everything is sore."

At six-foot-four and 260 pounds, Penner was nicknamed the 'Giant Slayer,' particularly after his victory over Eric "Butterbean" Esch, but Penner is generally a soft-spoken quiet guy. How is he enjoying all the attention from his fan club?

"I am normally pretty quiet, maybe not at the (fight's) after-parties after I am drinking, but I am generally pretty quiet," smiled Penner.

"Honestly, I don't think about it too much. I am just so busy. I am at the gym all the time. Usually after a fight, it's a day off and then right back to the gym again, so, to be honest, the time to think about it, (is) not really there."

Penner's mixed martial arts record is an impressive 6-1. He's made quick work of all his opponents in his wins.

His only loss as a pro fighter came against Jimmy Ambriz back in April.

"It's been a real great year for me. I have been able to establish myself as a fighter," said Penner.

"But the thing that sticks out to me is my one loss. It still pisses me off as much as it did the day after it happened."

The 28-year-old doesn't know too much about Desautels and with just a few short weeks to prepare for this fight, most of that time was spent in the Dominican Republic.

'I AM BURNT OUT'

This could brew an upset.

"That could definitely happen, I am not putting that by. I have fought a lot, I am burnt out," said Penner.

As he looks to close out 2008 with a bang and a victory, he is looking to slow down his pace in 2009.

"I am going to slow down the fights a little bit, only have three or four fights a year," said Penner.

"Hopefully, I'll be on a peak for every fight. Lately it's been three weeks between fights, and it's not smart to do, but it's been fun."